Depression Treatment in Dubai and Abu Dhabi | Aspris UAE

Depression treatment in Dubai & Abu Dhabi

While it’s normal for us all to feel sad from time-to-time, some people have such extreme low moods that these have a negative effect on their physical, mental and emotional health, and stop them from functioning in their daily lives. If this sounds like you, then you may be suffering with depression and require treatment.

We treat depression at both of our wellbeing centres, situated in Dubai and Abu Dhabi

At Aspris (formerly Priory), we understand that it can be very difficult to cope with depression, and people may struggle to seek the help they need due to feeling hopeless and lacking in motivation, which are two common symptoms of depression.

Depression is treatable – get help today

However, it’s important to recognise that you don’t have to suffer on your own. Depression is entirely treatable and with the right help from Aspris' specialist psychiatrists, psychologists and therapists, you can make a full recovery. It may seem daunting to reach out for help, but it really is the best thing you can do to get your life back on track. At Aspris Wellbeing Centres in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, we can provide expert outpatient treatment for depression, which is flexible and personalised according to your individual needs.

Our team of psychiatrists, psychologists and counsellors have lots of experience in treating depression at our specialist depression treatment clinics in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Our bespoke depression treatment programme ensures that your unique needs are addressed, so that you can achieve the best possible outcomes for you as an individual.

Outpatient depression treatment in Dubai and Abu Dhabi

Aspris' outpatient treatment for depression in Abu Dhabi and Dubai ensures:

  • Flexible and convenient consulting hours, which fit in around your work and other commitments
  • Fast access to high quality therapy
  • Complete confidentiality and discretion
  • Reassurance that you are receiving treatment from highly skilled experts
  • Online therapy is available if you are unable to visit us at the clinic

We can offer lots of different therapeutic techniques to treat depression both our Dubai and Abu Dhabi Wellbeing Centres. These may include a combination of the following:

  • Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) – this type of therapy helps you identify unhealthy thought patterns before giving you the skills to challenge and change these
  • Dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT) – this is a therapy method that’s used to treat people who struggle with intense and difficult emotions, helping them to manage their feelings in more effective ways
  • Medication – antidepressant medication, including selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), can be used alongside CBT and other therapies. It helps to complement the therapy, and acts as another barrier against the symptoms of depression
  • 1:1 therapy for depression – 1:1 therapy for depression takes place between you and a depression expert, allowing for a personalised and comprehensive treatment experience
  • Group therapy for depression – this therapy takes place with a group of patients, allowing you to share your experiences, and receive advice and guidance from people who are going through similar issues to you
  • Family therapy for depression – family therapy takes place with you and your immediate family or loved ones. It helps you have an honest conversation, develop a mutual understanding of the impact of your depression and learn how to support each other in the future

Overall, the purpose of therapy for depression is to help you:

  • Identify the underlying causes and triggers for your depression
  • Reduce your symptoms
  • Develop coping strategies to alleviate depression
  • Take steps towards a full and sustainable recovery

At our specialist depression treatment centres in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, our dedicated team of psychiatrists, psychologists, therapists and other mental health specialists are committed to support you do this.

What are the signs and symptoms of depression?

The signs and symptoms of depression can be different depending on the type of depression that you’re struggling with. They can also vary from person to person. Some of the most common symptoms of depression include:

Psychological symptoms:

  • Intense feelings of sadness and hopelessness
  • Feeling worthless
  • Feeling guilty
  • Losing interest in activities or hobbies that you once enjoyed
  • Insomnia or other sleep problems
  • Anxiety
  • Not being able to make decisions
  • Having poor judgement
  • Experiencing thoughts of harming yourself
  • Being irritable and angry
  • Not wanting to spend time with family and friends, which may lead to you becoming isolated
  • Struggling to concentrate
  • Decline in your school or work performance
  • Being unable to manage day-to-day tasks

Physical symptoms:

  • Changes in appetite meaning that you may gain weight or lose weight
  • Feeling tired all of the time
  • Psychomotor retardation (moving slowly)
  • Psychomotor agitation (being restless or unable to sit still)
  • Not looking after your physical appearance or personal hygiene
  • Unexplained aches, pains and digestive problems

What causes depression?

Research suggests that a number of factors may make it more likely that you will struggle with depression at some point in your life. These may include:

  • Going through stressful life events such as bereavement, losing your job, divorce or having financial difficulties
  • Experiencing traumatic events during childhood
  • Being the victim of abuse and/or neglect
  • Having a family history of depression or other psychiatric problems
  • Having a personal history of other mental health conditions
  • Having certain personality traits such as low self-esteem or being very self-critical
  • Suffering from serious and ongoing medical conditions such as cancer

What are the different types of depression?

There are lots of different types of depression, which each have their own unique symptoms. These include:

  • Severe depression – this causes a range of extreme feelings, such as:
    • Hopelessness
    • No longer being able to feel joy
    • No longer finding pleasure in things you once enjoyed
    • Not being able to function on a daily basis
    • Feeling suicidal or as though you want to hurt yourself
  • Severe depression with psychotic symptoms – this includes the symptoms of severe depression as well as psychotic symptoms, such as hallucinations (hearing/seeing things that aren’t real) and/or delusions (irrational beliefs)
  • Mild/moderate depression – this has symptoms that are similar to severe depression, but these are less extreme
  • Dysthymia – this causes low mood that can last for a number of years, but isn’t severe enough to affect how you function on a daily basis
  • Bipolar depression – this type of depression is experienced by people who have a diagnosis of bipolar disorder. It causes symptoms similar to severe depression, as well as episodes of hyperactivity and euphoria
  • Recurrent depression – this causes you to have repeated episodes of depression, but with no indication of bipolar depression

Where to get help for depression

Aspris have been treating depression in the UAE since 2017, at our specialist clinic in Dubai, We have recently opened a second Wellbeing Centre in Abu Dhabi. We now offer expert help for depression in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, at the following locations:

Depression therapy Dubai

Aspris Wellbeing Centre Dubai
Dubai City Walk, Al Nuzha Street
Building 19

Depression treatment Abu Dhabi

Aspris Wellbeing Centre Abu Dhabi
King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud Street
Al Bateen

Depression can be treated so please take the first steps to leading a fuller life and contact the Aspris depression specialists, they will be happy to talk you through the best counselling for you.

For further information call today on: (+971) 4 385 4493 (Dubai) / (+971) 2 651 8111 (Abu Dhabi) or submit an enquiry form in confidence. We will provide you with details on all our treatments and offer help on how to manage your mental health at a time that suits you.

Tanya Dharamshi, Counsellor

This page was clinically reviewed by Tanya Dharamshi (BSW, MSc Psych, Counsellor, DHCC, UAE) in March 2021, and is scheduled to be reviewed again in March 2023. Tanya brings 18+ years of counselling experience in trauma, crisis intervention, child abuse, substance addiction, attachment disorder, depression, anxiety, stress, bereavement, couples therapy, mood disorders, chronic illness and adjustment disorder. View Tanya's full profile here.